Ballast removing machine



July 28, 1953 K. KERSHAW BALLAST REMOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1947 INVENTOR.

Kira/K KerJhaw -BY f 7 July 28, 1953 K. KERSHAW BALLAST REMOVING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1947 INVENTOR. Knox Kerfzw v Y g 7 July ,28, .1953

K. KERsHAw BALLAST REMOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11, 1947 2 0 w ad a 6 e F Z 7/. 00 z 4 EWTPIIIMII l 1 2 7 3 Z a MM 0 u\ w 1 M @m w 4 a Z f w [N V EN TOR. A 170x A 875 7414 Patented July 28, i953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALLAST REMOVING MACHINE Knox Kershaw, Birmingham, Ala. I Application July 11, 1947, Serial No. 760,444

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for; removing ballast from between the cross ties in a railroad track preparatory to putting in new ties, relaying of rails and the like, and has for an object the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall be adapted to operate from the side of the track without interfering with trafiic thereon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a railroad track maintenance apparatus which shall include a self-propelled tool mounting carriage having its principal supporting wheels disposed to move alongside the track and with auxiliary flanged supporting and guiding wheels adapted to move along one rail of the track together with means to raise the flanged wheels off the rail and out of the way of passing trains.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for removing ballast from between the cross ties in a railroad track which shall be selfpropelled, and supported principally on the roadway alongsidev the track, and which shall include means for compensating for the irregularities in the roadway along which it is propelled.

A still further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for removing ballast from bea tween the cross ties of a railroad track which shall embody a reciprocating auger together with means for changing the angle of inclination of the auger with respect to the horizontal.

A still further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for removing ballast from between the cross' ties in a railroad track which shall be simple of design and operation, economical of manufacture, and which shall embody that flexibility of operation necessary to insure rapid and eflicient work.

In the previously filed application of myself and Dennis M. Praytor, relating to Track Stripping Machine and which issued as Patent No. 2,547,596, we have shown, described, and claimed apparatus including a carriage mounted to move on the rails of a railroad track and embodying a motor driven reciprocating auger disposed to enter between the cross ties and remove ballast therefrom. While such apparatus has proved successful in operation, it must necessarily be moved out of the way for thepassage of trains over the line where it operates which, where there is a frequent passage of trains, entails 'a great loss of time. It accordingly became desirable to provide apparatus capable of operating alongside the track so that it would not interfere with the passing of trains and would not have to cease operation for an undue length of z 7 time to permit the passage of trains. I have accordingly devisedthe apparatus herein disclosed in which the carriage is supported and propelled on the ground alongside the railroad track and which'includes means for compensating for unevenness in the ground. Various track working tools may be mounted on the carriage; in the example shown, a reciprocating auger is employed, similar to that disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid previously filed application, and means are provided for raising andlowering the frame of the machine with respect to the auger and to change the angle of inclination of the auger with respect to the horizontal. I have thus provided flexibility of operation which permits rapid and eflicient work.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatuswith parts removed and broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, and with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a, sectional view taken along the lin III-III of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV.IV of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of one of the elevating screws for the augerframe, taken along the line V--V of Fig. 4; v

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the connecting rod employed with the frame elevating .cylinder and the shaft for the elevating cylinder;

Fig. 7 is a piping diagram showing the means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinders and to the motor with my improved apparatus; and v Fig. 2: is a diagrammatic view of the cable and sheave arrangement employed for reciprocating the auger carriage.

Referring to thedrawings for a better under standing of my invention, my improved apparatus comprises a main frame composed of longitudinal members [0 and H extending in a direction transverse to the railroad track, indicated generally by the numeral I2. Also forming a part of the main frame are a pair of shorter longitudinal members 13 and [4 which are mounted above the members .10 and H and which are joined to the latter bymeans of vertically extending frame members I6 and IT. The lower" longitudinal members I0 and II are joined to- 55,.gether by means-of cross pieces l8 and I9 and the upper members l3 and I4 by cross pieces 2| channels 23 and 24, and the diagonal braces 26,

is an upper cross beam 21.

Supported by the upper cross beam 2] and- I extending downwardly therefrom is hydraulic cylinder 28 to which fluid may be suppliedat its opposite ends by means of conduits 29 and 3i. The cylinder 28 is provided with a piston 32 and piston rod 33 which passes through a =stufiingbox 34 at the lower endlthereof. n the lower end of the piston rod .-.33 is an enlarged; end 36 forming a bearing for a hollowshaft 31. Mounted within the hollowshaftjl is a bushing ,38 forming an inner bearing for a pin 39. See Fig. 6. -Mounted :on the outerends of the pin 39 are shoes or gibs 4i :and :42 which are mounted to slide .inlthe channels .13 land 24, the latter forming'guides therefor. l w.

Rivotallymoun-ted tolrockonthelpin 39, are a pair of walking-beam members '43 and 44 which are joined together at their ends lay pins 45 and 41, to formawalking beam. Mounted on the pins '46 and ll-to .rotatethereon, between the walking beam members 43 and 44 are hollow shafts 48-and 49.-- '-Depending from the ends of the pin 48 are a pair of vertical links and 52 in the lowerends of whichisjournaled an axle 53 upon which is .mounted a .pneumatic tired wheel54. The axle 53 is connected to the lower longitudinal frame member. a l Baby means of links 56 and 51. Similarly 'lat the opposite .ends of the walking beam members are mounted depending-links 58 land 59 -on-the-ends of the ,pin 41. J ournaled at the lower ends .of the.links 58 and 59 is- -thefaxle-filrof apneumatic tiredwheel -62, which axle is joined to the lower frame member H =by meansof 1inks 6'3 and :64"

The opposite end of the frame irom-thatjust describedis supportedirom the .rail :66 of the railroad-trackby means of .a pair of flanged wheels 51 and 68 which are journaledina pair of wheel supporting members 63 and Hit, Joined together at their ends by -means of ltransversel.members l.2 and 13.- The wheel supporting members 69 .and H are pivotally connected'to themain frame .of the apparatus by meanslofa pair of Vboomlmemhers. andJE, sare-lconnected at their outer ends to the longitudinally extending frame members lfi -and l -l-by 'meansaofbolts i1 and i3. l-fhe boom members l iand lli aresalso. detachably connected to the cross piece-.l8ljoining the longitudinally extending framemembers i9 and H by means of pins 11' and 18' which pass through the members 14 and 16 into suitable sockets formed of lengths of pipe secured tothe member l8, as indicated l. Theboom members J'4Jand are braced by means of diagonal braces 79 and 8! which are connected to the opposite ends of the wheel support"?! and tothe inner ends of the boom members [4 and i6.

'Whenever it is desired to remove the flanged wheels and their supporting frame from the rail 66 to permit passage of annagme pins H and l 8jare withdrawn and the boom members 14 and T6 are swung about their p iv o ts ll an'd 18 by m'ernb-er is 'mounted a roller 89.

means of a Windlass 82 mounted on top of the main frame as shown in-Fig. 2; A cable 83 uperated by the Windlass is connected at its outer end to the wheel supporting members 59 and H by a pin 84 which extends through angle bars 86 secured to the wheel support. When the flanged wheels 61 and 58 are raised out of the way, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the ends of the longitudinal frame members It and 1! adjacent the railroad track 12 rest onithe outer. ends of the cross ties int'he clear of passing" trains. At 81, I show a hook-shaped member which is piv- "'otally mounted adjacent the ends of the longitudinal frame members it and I l as shown at 28 in Fig. 2. On the upper end of the hook shaped Whenever it is desired to connectthe boom members 14 and '16 to the cross piece $8 of the longitudinal frame members, after the flanged wheels 6? and 68 have again been lowered, the cable 83 is passed under the roller 39, as shown in .Fig. 2. oithe drawing, and. the Windlass 824s operatedto raise the end of the mainframe relative to the boom members 14 and 16 until thepins l1 and 18' can again be inserted in the sockets provided in the cross piece. 18, whereupon the boom members are again rigidly connected to the main frame At 9| I show an anger comprising a .helicoidal flight mounted on a shaft 52 and supported from bearings -93 and 94, mounted in .a carriage 6. The auger shaft 92 isdriven byahydrauliclmotor 9'! having a shaft .98 withasprocket 1 99 v thereon. The sprocket 1539 is connected to a sprocket IM. mounted on the shaft 92 bymeans of alchain i012.

' At H13 and 104 are shown the inlet and outlet The sub-frame also includes-upper, shorter channel members I08 and tilt-mounted with their flanges inturned. The [members Hi8 i139 joined with the members Hi8 and Id! at one end by means of a plate HI and at the other end by means of short structuralmembers H2. Supporting rollers 1| [3, H4, 1 .l 6,, and! I are mounted.

at the corners of the auger-carriage and travel in the inturned channels it and ml to support the rria e 9b-w r The ends of the sub-framelmembers 1 86 and till, adj acent the railroad track t2,,=are ,pivotally connected to the longitudinal frame members in and H of the mainframe bylmeans of a pin 4 E 8, which extends across and through-both frames as-shown in Fig 1 of the drawing. 4 The outer ends of the sub-framemembers Hi8 and It}? are supported from the main frame members 13 and M by means of a .pair of adjusting screws vI 1-19 and l2l which pass through nuts I22 and; 23 .=p.iv0tally I21 extending into plates 28 welded orotherwise suitably secured to the sub-frame members 103 and Hi7. The upper ends of the screws 1 l9 and I2! are connected by means of sprockets and-a sprocket chain [29' so as to be operated .in unison as by means ofa suitable hand wheel I734 mounted on the upperen d of the screw t9. By the means M which slide between the inturned flangesof the upper frame members I08 and I09 to guide the movement of the yoke. On the sideof the cylinder I32 is a relatively fixed sheave MI and mounted on the rear end on a bar connecting the sub-frame members I06 and I01 isa relatively fixed sheave I42. adjacent the railroad track I2 are two relatively fixed sheaves I43 and I46. at I41 to the outer end of the auger carriage '96 and passes Yaroundthe fixed sheave I42, thence around the movable sheave I39, mounted inthe yoke I3 3, thence around the fixed pulley I4I mounted on the side of the cylinder I32, thence around the movable sheave I38 and then to an anchor I48 onv the side of the cylinder I32. A

At 'theend of the sub-frame,

A cable A-isconnected mounted respectively on the hollow shafts 48 and 49 which span therouter ends of the walking beam members 43 and 44. Mounted on the shafts 4B and 46, respectively, are sprockets I81 and I82 which drive respectively sprockets I83 and I84 on,

the axles 6| and 53 respectively through chains I86 and I 81;

From the foregoing description, the. operation of my improved ballast removing apparatus will be readily understood. With the apparatus disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the. boom members 14 and 16 are rigidly conneoted'to the main frame members by means of the pins 11 and 18'. The auger. 9 I is entered between a pair of cross ties T beneath the rail 66 and is driven by means of the hydraulic motor 91. At the same time, it is reciproc'ated by means of the hydraulic cy1inder l32 and the system of.

cables and sheaves shown in Fig. 8 toenter the second cable B is connected'at I49 to the other end of the auger carriage 96 and passes first around the fixed sheave I46 thence around the movable sheave I31, thence around the fixed sheave I44, thence around the movable sheave I36 and has its outer end secured to an anchor I5I positioned on a bar which connects the forward ends of the sub-frame members I08 and I09- Fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder I32 through connections I52 and I53 to reciprocate the piston therein and the yoke I34. It will be seen from the foregoing description, that for every unit of movement of the yoke I 34, the auger carriage 96 will be moved. four units. By the means just described, the auger carriage may be reciprocated from one end to the other of. its frame, the supporting rollers II 3, H4, H6, and II! cooperating with the channel members I06 and I01 to guide it in its reciprocatory movement.

Power for generating the hydraulic pressurerequired to operate the hydraulic devices described is derived from an internal combustion engine I54 which drives a hydraulic pump I56 through a sprocket and chain drive I51. Fluid for the operation of the pump is stored in a reservoir I58 and fluid under pressure is delivered from the pump I56 through a pipe I59 to valves I6I, I62, I63, and I64. In Fig. 7 the arrangement of the tubing and valves is shown diagrammatically. For obvious reasons the tubing employed for conveying pressure is preferably flexible. The valve I 64 controls the admission and return of fluid to the cylinder 28 through the tubes 29 and 3 I. The valve I62 controls the admission and return of fluid to the cylinder I32 through the tubes I52 and I 53. The valve I6I controls the admission and return of fluid to the hydraulic motor 91 for drivingthe auger 9|.

The apparatus is propelled along the side of the railroad track by means of a hydraulic motor I66 to which fluid is admitted through tubes I61 and I66 controlled by valve I63. The motor I66 is mounted on a cross plate I69 spanning the walking beam members 43 and 44. It drives the hollow shaft 31 extending between the walking beam members by means of a sprocket I1I mounted on the shaft. Also mounted on the hollow shaft 31 are sprockets I13 and I14 with chains I 16 and" I11 thereon passing over sprockets I18 and I19 auger between the ties and retract ittherefrom to remove the ballast. When the ballast has been removed from between a pair of ties, the apparatus is moved to the next space by operation of the hydraulic motor-I66 as just described and the stripping operation is repeated. The mounting of the wheels 62 and 54 at v.the ends of the walking beam members allows them to adapt themselves to irregularities in the ground- Atthe same time the elevation of the mainframe with respect to the supporting wheels 62 and 54. may be varied by means of the hydraulic cylin-,

der 28. Further adjustment of the sub-frame to the main frame may be accomplished by the screws H6 and I25. When it is desired to, remove the wheels 61 and 68 out of the way of passing trains, the auger is retracted from between the cross ties, the pins 11' and 18 are retracted,-

and the Windlass 82 is operated to raise the boom members and wheels out of the way. The cable is freed of the roller 89 in this operation.

It will be understood that track working tools other than the ballast removing auger herein disclosed may be employed with my improved apparatus and broadly, my invention covers a car-' riage of the character described upon which track working tools may be mounted and operated out of the way of passing trains.-

- While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire,

} therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for removing ballast from between the cross ties in a railroad track including, a main frame disposed alongside the railroad track, a hydraulic cylinder and plunger therefor vertically disposed in the main frame, and a reciprocable auger operatively connected to the main frame and disposed to enter the spaces between the cross ties and remove ballast therefrom, the combination of a walking beam pivotallymounted between its ends on the plunger to be raised and lowered thereby, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on axles disposed to rest on the roadway alongside the track and depending from the ends of the walking beam, links pivotally connected at either end to the main frame and to' the wheel axles, and driving means for the supporting wheels.

2. In apparatus for removing ballast from between the cross ties in a railroad track, including a main frame disposed alongside the railroad track, supporting wheels for the main frame and a reciprocable auger operatively connected thereto, the combination of a hydraulic cylinder and plunger therefor vertically disposed in the main frame, a walking Ibeam pivotally mounted between its ends on the plunger to be raised and lowered thereby, said supporting wheels being disposed to rest on the roadway alongside the track and depending from the ends of the walking beam, driving means for the supporting wheels, 1;. sub-frame for the auger pivotally mounted :at one end thereof to the main frame, guide means included in the sub-frame and di-' rected toward the railroad track, a carriage for the auger zmounted to reciprocate in the guide means, and adjusting means coacting between the other end of thesub-frame and the main frame to vary the angle of the sub-frame with respect "to the mainframe.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which a hydraulic cylinder and .piston is mounted in the sub-frame and is operatively connected to the auger carriage .to reciprocateit.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which a hydraulic cylinder and piston is mounted in the sub-frame and is connected to the auger carriage by pulleys and cables to reciprocate the carriage and .to afiord a movement of the carriage whichis amultiple of the unit of movement of the piston.

5. in apparatus for removing ballast from between the cross ties in a railroad track, a'main framedisposed alongside the railroad track, supporting wheels for the main frameand a reciprocable auger operatively connected thereto and disposed to enter the spaces between the cross ties and remove ballast therefrom, the combination of :a hydraulic cylinder and plunger therefor vertically-disposed in the main frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted between its ends on the plunger to be raised and lowered thereby, said supporting wheels being disposed to rest on the roadway alongside the'track and depending from the ends-o'f the walking beam, driving means for the supporting wheels, a pair of flanged wheels mounted to rest on the rail=of the track adjacent the main frame and including structural mem- "track and a reciprocable auger operatively connected to the main frame and disposed to enter the spaces between the cross ties and remove ballast therefrom, the combination of a subframe'pivotally mounted in the main frame and in which the auger is mounted for reciprocation, adjusting means coacting between the main frame and the sub-frame and varying the angular relation between the main frame and the subframe comprising mechanism constructed and arranged to rock the sub-frame vertically about its .pivot points, a pair of supporting wheels connected with the main frame and disposed to rest on the roadway alongside the track, and adjusting means coacting between the main frame and saidsupporting wheels adapted to raise and lower the main frame with respect to said supporting wheels.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which a walking beam extends parallel to the railroad track and is pivotally connected to the main irameand the supporting wheelsadapted to rest on the roadway are mounted respectively at opposite ends of said walking beam.

KNOX KERSHAW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 494,368 Decker Mar. 28, 1893 1,151,561 Bollinger Aug. 31, 1915 2,174,997 Bonk Oct. 3, i939 238L425 Deal et al. Aug. 7, 1945 2-;eL6-,241 Stratton. Feb. 18, 1947 2,449,714 Praytor et al Sept. 21, 1948 2,474,471 Dolan, II June 28, 1949 2,547,596 Praytor et a1 Apr. 3, 1951 

